Linda Sue Park, the award winning author of A Single Shard, A Long Walk to Water, and Project Mulberry brings middle grade readers Prairie Lotus — a deeply moving work of historical fiction set on the colonized prairie in 1870. The resemblance to the Ingalls-Wilder series is not coincidental. In the back matter, Parks details […]
Month: October 2020
My Hair is a Garden
My Hair is a Garden Written and Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera This book is a visual masterpiece by a Black artisan, puppeteer, and illustrator, Cozbi A. Cabrera. We follow the journey of a young Black student as she struggles to accept the power of her hair, eventually drawing comfort and confidence from the similarities […]
Out Of My Mind
Out Of My Mind Written By Sharon M. Draper Out Of My Mind is a beautiful fictional story from Sharon M. Draper about the life, triumphs, and struggles of an almost 11 year old Melody Brooks, a bright young girl with Cerebral Palsy. This 33 chapter long story paints a very clear picture of Melodys […]
Just Ask
Written by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and the first Hispanic Latina member of the court, Sonia Sotomayor. Illustrated by Rafael Lopez. Be Different. Be Brave. Be You. Justice Sotomayor gifts the reader with a textual conversation about differently abled children. She gracefully makes a connection between the many different […]
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
We Are Water Protectors written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade. Reviewed by Isabelle Grant. “Water is the first medicine” We are Water Protectors is a story inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America. With simple and powerful language alongside breathtaking illustrations, We Are Water Protectors details Indigenous traditions that honor […]
Going Down Home With Daddy
Written by: Kelly Starling Lyons Illustrated by: Daniel Minter Reviewed by: Macey Putnam (2020-2021) “There is nothing like going down home” Going Down Home With Daddy is a beautiful book that was awarded the Caldelcott for 2020 and showcases the traditions and culture of an African American family. In the story Lil Alan and his […]
All Are Welcome
Written By: Alexandra Penfold Illustrated By: Suzanne Kaufman Reviewed By: Hannah Robles (2020-2021) “In our classroom safe and sound. Fears are lost and hope is found. Raise your hand, we’ll go around. All are welcome here.” All Are Welcome shines light into a school where diversity and inclusion are celebrated! As I began reading this […]
The Hate U Give
Written by Angie Thomas Reviewed by Julia Marlin (2020-2021) Starr Carter is just a 16-year-old girl trying to navigate her identity. Depending on where she goes, she walks a fine line between being perceived as too Black or not Black enough. At Williamson Prep, the White-majority private high school she and her brother attend across […]
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
The Day You Begin written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael López Reviewed by Sarah Conley “There will be times when the world feels like a place that you’re standing all the way outside of…” The Day You Begin is a bright and colorful book despite its initially sober tone. We follow several characters […]
How Mama’s Love Their Babies
Written by Junpier Fitzgerald Reviewed by Sadie Koch (2020-2021) How do mama’s bodies show love to their babies? That is the guiding question of this debut children’s book from feminist theorist and sex worker Juniper Fitzgerald. This beautifully illustrated book catalogs many different ways that mama’s bodies can show love to their babies either physically […]